site.btaBulgaria Described as Best Destination for Russian Tourists in 2016

Bulgaria Described as Best Destination for Russian Tourists in 2016

Moscow/Sofia, February 25 (BTA) - Bulgaria ranks at the first place among the destinations suited to accept Russian tourists in 2016, Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism Oleg Safonov said during the presentation of Bulgaria as a tourist destination in the Russian State Duma, the Bulgarian Tourism Ministry said in a press release Thursday.

Bulgarian Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova was the only representative of a country from the region to address the State Duma in the tourist presentations and the first Bulgarian Minister to speak in the Russian Parliament in the past 27 years.

Safonov and State Duma Deputy Ivan Melnikov noted that the measures the Bulgarian government undertakes to promote the inflow of Russian tourists are tangible and yield better and better results. Safonov paid special attention to a meeting he had with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in Sofia which is assessed as a clear commitment in respect of the importance of Russian holiday makers in Bulgaria. The Russian officials also noted Bulgaria's advantage as a secure and safe destination.

Angelkova said that the Russian tourists are among the most numerous foreign holiday makers at the Bulgarian seaside resorts and noted the importance of creating the best conditions and promoting more and more visits to Bulgaria. She also noted the reliefs for travelling to Bulgaria available to Russians.

Angelkova said that Russians up to 16 years of age coming to Bulgaria in children's camps or packaged tours are entitled to free visas. Various reliefs are available for owners of properties in Bulgaria and for people who visited Bulgaria before.

The Bulgarian Tourism Minister said that a hot line: 0700 20 991, was launched on February 1 where Russian tourists can receive information about  holiday opportunities in Bulgaria.

Angelkova also said that in Russia Bulgaria is best known for its summer resorts but that the country has a lot more to offer - mountain, spa, religious and eco-tourism.

Since the start of the year there has been increased interest towards Bulgaria by Russian tour operators and more than ten such companies have applied fro accreditation with the Bulgarian consular services. Chartered flights are to be increased from Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov on Don, Chelyabinsk, Volgograd, Samara, and Ufa.

It is expected that the upcoming summer season will see an increase of 20 to 30 per cent in the number of Russian visitors to Bulgaria.